Canada--Part Deux!

I hear there is a saying that goes: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” It probably sounds a tad less condescending in Italian. I mean, it’s not like most people are going to stand on the Spanish Steps and yell “DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THE MCDONALDS IS? I WANT A CHEESEBURGER!”

In any case, as my travels have taken me to Toronto this week, I thought I would amend that sentiment just a tad to fit what was my experience in this fair Ontario city: “When in Toronto, visit the Hockey Hall of Fame and Insult Don Cherry in an elevator.” Not exactly Bartlett’s worthy, but it’ll have to do.

Part One: The Hall of Fame

I strategically placed m’self in a hotel within three blocks of the building, so that I would have no excuse to not visit. On a scale from one to 5, I consider m’self to be a level 3 hockey fan—I know most of the players and a little about the history (mostly to do with the Bruins), but I’ve never played (Level 4), nor am I Canadian (Level 5). So, I guess you could say I was reasonably excited to visit.

Because this Hall of Fame is a shrine to a Canadian game invented in Canada, I eagerly expected a different experience. And so it was. First of all, the entrance to the Hockey hall of Fame is in a mall on the foodcourt level smack dab in the middle of downtown Toronto. A really, really nice mall? You bet. A really really lovely foodcourt? Bien Sur! However, if you weren’t looking for the place, you would probably mistake it for either : a) a movie theater or b) a Maple Leafs themed gift shop.

(As an aside, the mall entrance and architecture was eerily reminiscent to the Oriente train station in Lisbon. Given that Toronto has a “Little Portugal” neighborhood, I’m probably not the first one to make that connection. But still…neat!)

The Hall of Fame itself did not disappoint. The first display one sees when they first walk in is Bobby Orr’s. Not Gretzky’s, but Orr’s. So...interesting! Got this picture:

(The skates he was wearing when he scored the cup winning goal in 1970...NEAT!)

I also managed to grab a picture of Pat Verbeek's Whalers jersey (that didn't come out), which was located in the "gone but not forgotten" display where they showed all the jerseys from NHL teams in the past. I was never a Whalers fan, but I liked having ONE professional team in the nutmeg state. And they even had their own fight song, which my 8th grade English teacher would play before class. Small towns kind of rule sometimes.

So, in true TIACAICTG style (this week): Here are the ups and downs of a day at the Hockey Hall of Fame:

Ups:

• The Collection of Sticks--It was really, really fascinating to see the evolution of the hockey stick. To me, hockey screwed up when they allowed sticks to be made from anything besides wood. The composite sticks are just not as impressive, and they make the modern players look like cheating wussies.
  
  
• Proximity to a REALLY great Food Court--I mean, when you're finished touring all the history, there is a deli, and a really complete fruit stand, and a greek restaurant...just choices all around. I went with the deli, and was not disappointed.
  
  
• Lots of interactive displays--You can even try to score against an electronic goalie, which was pretty neat. I hit the post. I'm okay with that.
  

• The International/Olympic Collections--I mean, I REALLY liked seeing Vladislav Tretiak's jersey, and going through all the years of the Olympic hockey competition. I spent most of my time there, to be honest.

• The Original Stanley Cup--I didn't realize that the Stanley Cup has been built and rebuilt several times. Also, the cup on the top of the modern cup is NOT the cup Lord Stanley donated--that cup is located in a separate display. (inside of an old bank vault, actually, which was a great space). So, it really was something to see.
  

Downs

• The Phony Stanley Cup--Okay, I understand that most people go to the hall of fame to see the cup. And I understand not wanting to leave those folks disappointed. But, to put a doppleganger cup on display and try to pass it off as the original? BOO! I would rather NOT see it than to look at a replica. Maybe it's just me.
  

• No Champions Exhibit--When I went to the baseball hall of fame, they at least had a collection of the rings from each team that won the World Series. I think it would have been really neat to have a jersey from each team on display or something. Nope. They mostly just concentrated on the dynasties, complete with a replica of the dressing room of the Montreal Forum. A nice touch, but incomplete. I mean, a signed team puck display? Something?
  

• Construction of a New Guest Shop--Half of the hall of fame smelled a little like turpentine, as they were constructing a new place to buy your "I was THERE!" memorabilia. Not really the olfactory connection I was looking for.

In conclusion: I spent 2 1/2 hours in there, and felt like I saw everything. So, if you're planning a trip to Toronto JUST to see it, you may want to pencil in an afternoon activity.
Part Two--Don Cherry

After my work "thing" last night, I was dragging my weary American bones home to my hotel. Pressed the button for the elevator, and who should be standing there when the doors opened, but this guy:(Batshit crazy Don Cherry)

He was coming up from the parking garage to his room, and so I had eight floors worth of one on one time (okay 3 on 1, there were other people in the elevator) with the flamboyant, controversial, and generally insane broadcasting giant. Of course, he was wearing a "subdued" black pinstripe suit with a HUGE Canadian flag patch on the jacket pocket. How else would you know it was him, right?

Before I go any further, I need to give you some context. My father was, at one time at least, a level 3.5 hockey fan in the 70's. He fell away from the game in the 80's in no small part to Mr. Cherry (getting to that), so at this point he's probably at the 1.5 level, in that he's interested only if Bruins are in the cup final, and certainly not interested in giving his heart back to them for an entire season.

However, a conversation with my father about the game will uncover more than a few scars from those days. The one that is by far the deepest cut took place in game 7 of the 1979 semi-finals against Montreal, (the Hammer to the Bruins nail for years and years and years.) Leading by a goal with 2 minutes left in the third period at the the old Montreal Forum, this happened. A "too many men on the ice" penalty, which then Bruins head coach Don Cherry later admitted was his fault.

"That was my fault," Boston coach Don Cherry said. "They (his players) must have thought they heard me say something. I had to grab two other guys or we'd have had eight out there!"

Let it be said that I heard the story a little differently, and with a little more colorful phrasing, shall we say? Even as a lad of 10, I knew that something had happened to my pa that day, that he may never have enjoyed hockey the same way again. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it now for the sake of this story. You be the judge.

So, maybe it was my exhaustion from the travel and work. Maybe it was all the hockey on the brain from my visit to the hall of fame. But I felt like I needed to say something to this man, so that he would understand that some things are gone but not forgotten. And so, I felt myself turn towards him, and then heard this come out of my mouth:

"You know, Mr. Cherry, my father still has not forgiven you for 'too many men on the ice'."

Cue the sound of a surprised old man Cherry bursting into laughter. His response was gracious and befitting of a man who had long let go of his terrible, unforgivable error: "Everywhere I go, I still have Bruins fans give me a hard time about that!"

By this time, I was laughing too. I got off on my floor, and wished him a good evening, which he returned to me. The whole exchange lasted all of 10 seconds.

What? Do they just plant famous figures from hockey's past in hotel elevators throughout Toronto? Probably.